A lemony cucumber salad is the perfect antidote to a brutally hot day. And, with July nearly here, the temperature (at least in NY) is forecast to soar well into the 90s! This salad is cool, refreshing, and you don’t have to cook anything. It’s also ready in about five minutes. So, it’s great when you have a bad case of the hungries and don’t want to wait a long time to eat (look further down the page for tips on making this a full meal).
I made my cucumber salad with romaine lettuce, English cucumber (the long seedless kind), fresh lemon juice, and dill. If you use the English cucumber, you don’t have to peel it; which is a welcome extra shortcut. I used dried dill, but fresh is even better, if you have some.
Made this way, it’s a wonderful, easy side salad, which would go nicely with some salmon in yogurt dill sauce.
On the other hand, if you would rather have a meal that’s a bit heartier, toss in some sort of extra protein. You could add a sliced hardboiled egg, a bit of crumbled feta or goat cheese, or even shredded leftover chicken. With the protein, the recipe as written is enough for lunch. If you want to have it for dinner, double the quantities of everything.
Lemony Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C romaine or green leaf lettuce, washed and patted dry
- 1/4 (about 4 inches worth) seedless cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper
- generous pinch dried dill
- 2 1/2 tsp olive oil
- Grated lemon peel (garnish)
Instructions
- Toss the lettuce and cucumber in a medium size bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dill.
- Add the olive oil and stir to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Garnish with freshly grated lemon peel
Taste the dressing before you add the olive oil and then adjust the seasonings if needed. Adding the oil last helps the dressing emulsify (blend together better).
Lemony Cucumber Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Add some sliced bell pepper
- Garnish with freshly snipped scallions
- Add protein (hard boiled egg, chicken, feta)
- Vary the greens you use (try green leaf lettuce, arugula, or a salad mixture)
- Add some chopped tomato
More Cucumber and Salad Recipes
Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts
Sweet summer blueberries, salty feta, and earthy spinach, with an added walnut crunch. Toss this together in a few minutes (no cooking needed).
Chopped Israeli Salad for One Person
A refreshing side dish that’s great alongside a sandwich or even for breakfast (yes, breakfast, with some olives and pita and lebne). Delicious.
Spicy Sesame Noodles Recipe for One Person
Why bother with takeout when you can make it at home. It’s cheaper, and you know what’s in it. The cool cucumber offsets the spicy peanut sauce.
Peanut Butter and Cucumber on Rye Bread
Speaking of peanut butter and cucumber… I know what you’re thinking. This is “weird.” Maybe. But it’s also delicious. Don’t think peanut butter and cucumber, think sweet and crunchy as a foil for salty and creamy.